Group Written Exposure Therapy for PTSD
(GWET Trial)
Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Academic
Recruiting
Sponsor: St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
Disqualifiers: Severe SUD, Psychotic disorder, others
No Placebo Group
Approved in 2 Jurisdictions
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?The goal of this clinical trial is to test if Written Exposure Therapy (WET) works well in a group setting in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Does group WET lead to a reduction in symptoms of PTSD?
* Is group WET better at reducing the number of patients that drop out of treatment in comparison to group Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)?
Participants will:
* Attend 6 weekly sessions of group WET that will be delivered online by two therapists (psychologist and social worker)
* Complete questionnaires relating to their symptoms at different points throughout the treatment
Researchers will evaluate change in PTSD symptoms over time for people who participate in group WET. They will also compare the results of group WET to the results of group CPT to see if group WET shows a similar reduction in symptoms of PTSD and fewer treatment drop-outs.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Group Written Exposure Therapy for PTSD?
Research shows that Written Exposure Therapy (WET) is effective for treating PTSD, with studies indicating significant symptom improvement in patients, including veterans. WET is a brief, efficient treatment that has shown similar long-term benefits to more intensive therapies like Cognitive Processing Therapy.
12345Is Group Written Exposure Therapy safe for humans?
Written Exposure Therapy (WET) is generally considered safe for treating PTSD, as it is a brief and well-tolerated treatment with no significant safety concerns reported in studies.
12356How is Group Written Exposure Therapy different from other PTSD treatments?
Group Written Exposure Therapy is unique because it is a brief treatment consisting of only five sessions, requires no homework between sessions, and is designed to be efficient and tolerable, making it more accessible and easier to complete compared to other PTSD treatments that typically require more sessions.
12357Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for adults aged 18-65 with PTSD who can read and write in English. They must be able to give informed consent. It's not clear what excludes someone from participating, but typically it would involve factors that could interfere with the treatment or data collection.Inclusion Criteria
I have been diagnosed with PTSD.
I am 18 years old or older.
Able to provide written informed consent and can read and write in English
Exclusion Criteria
Untreated active psychotic, manic or hypomanic symptoms
Diagnosis of an active severe substance use disorder (SUD)
Has engaged in high-risk self-harm (e.g., cutting, burning, asphyxiation) in the 2 months prior to beginning treatment
+4 more
Trial Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
2-4 weeks
Treatment
Participants attend 6 weekly sessions of group Written Exposure Therapy (WET) delivered online by two therapists
6 weeks
6 visits (virtual)
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for changes in PTSD symptoms and related measures at 1-month post-treatment
4 weeks
Participant Groups
The trial tests Group Written Exposure Therapy (WET) for PTSD, comparing its effectiveness and dropout rates against group Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). Participants will attend six weekly online sessions led by therapists and complete symptom questionnaires over time.
1Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Group Written Exposure TherapyExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Patients will be invited to participate in group Written Exposure Therapy (described in the "Interventions" section).
Group Written Exposure Therapy is already approved in United States, European Union for the following indications:
🇺🇸 Approved in United States as Written Exposure Therapy for:
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
🇪🇺 Approved in European Union as Written Exposure Therapy for:
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
Anxiety Treatment and Research Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare HamiltonHamilton, Canada
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
St. Joseph's Healthcare HamiltonLead Sponsor
References
An Open Pilot Trial of Written Exposure Therapy for Patients With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Korea. [2021]Written exposure therapy (WET) is exposure therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Compared to evidencebased treatments for PTSD, WET requires only five sessions, has a shorter session time, and no between-session assignments. The current study examined the efficacy of WET among Korean patients with PTSD due to various traumatic events on PTSD symptoms, depressive symptoms, and global functioning levels.
Brief novel therapies for PTSD: Written Exposure Therapy. [2022]Written Exposure Therapy (WET) is a 5-session exposure-based intervention for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). WET was developed through a series of systematic evaluations of the expressive writing procedure. It is an efficient intervention, requiring limited patient and therapist time and no between-session assignments. The treatment results in statistically and clinically significant symptom change among individuals, including veterans, with PTSD.
Long-term treatment gains of a brief exposure-based treatment for PTSD. [2022]Written exposure therapy (WET) is a 5-session PTSD treatment that may address barriers in treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) given its brevity and tolerability. A recent study found outcomes for WET were non-inferior to outcomes from Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) through 36 weeks from first treatment session (Sloan, Marx, Lee, & Resick, 2018); the current study examined whether treatment gains were maintained through 60 weeks from first session, and also evaluated both treatments' effect on depressive symptoms.
Effectiveness of written exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder in the Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System. [2023]Written Exposure Therapy (WET) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been shown to be efficacious in clinical trials; however, research is needed to determine WET's effectiveness in clinical practice settings. Additionally, research is needed to understand whether patient characteristics or treatment delivery format moderate outcomes.
Written Exposure Therapy vs Prolonged Exposure Therapy in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial. [2023]Evidence-based treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exist, but all require 8 to 15 sessions and thus are less likely to be completed than brief treatments. Written exposure therapy (WET) is a brief and efficacious treatment that has not been directly compared with prolonged exposure therapy (PE), a more time-intensive, exposure-based treatment.
A Brief Exposure-Based Treatment vs Cognitive Processing Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Noninferiority Clinical Trial. [2022]Written exposure therapy (WET), a 5-session intervention, has been shown to efficaciously treat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, this treatment has not yet been directly compared with a first-line PTSD treatment such as cognitive processing therapy (CPT).
Effect of Written Exposure Therapy vs Cognitive Processing Therapy on Increasing Treatment Efficiency Among Military Service Members With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Noninferiority Trial. [2022]Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs more commonly among military service members than among civilians; however, despite the availability of several evidence-based treatments, there is a need for more efficient evidence-based PTSD treatments to better address the needs of service members. Written exposure therapy is a brief PTSD intervention that consists of 5 sessions with no between-session assignments, has demonstrated efficacy, and is associated with low treatment dropout rates, but prior randomized clinical trials of this intervention have focused on civilian populations.